Artificial wombs and egg freezing: Reproductive technologies will not “solve” gender inequalities
The possibility of artificial womb technology
(ectogenesis) is no longer hypothetical. Three years ago, scientists put
a premature lamb fetus in an artificial womb and it was able to develop normally to term. Scientists
and others today are working on developing an artificial womb for humans.
There has been much discussion in the bioethics
literature recently about whether ectogenesis would be empowering for women, freeing them from their traditional role as child-bearer
and child-rearer. Indeed,
some claim that the root of gender inequality is the fact that ciswomen
experience pregnancy, whereas cismen do not. According to this argument, if
pregnancy were no longer associated with a particular gender, then gender
inequality would be eradicated.
Yet I find it unlikely that new
reproductive technologies alone will engender gender equality without
significant social changes as well. In other words, if
ectogenesis were to become the new normal for all pregnancies, this would not
necessarily sever ties between women and traditional women’s work (e.g.
childcare, housework, etc.). This is because women’s oppression is not based on
just one obstacle but rather is a multifaceted interlocking system. Feminist
philosopher Marilyn Frye uses the analogy
of a birdcage to explain oppression, which I quote at length because she so
adroitly explains why oppression is so difficult to recognize and to overcome:
“If you look very closely
at...
Source: blog.bioethics.net - Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Bioethics Today Tags: Gender Disparities Health Care Author: Campo-Engelstein feminist ethics Fertility reproductive medicine reproductive rights syndicated Women's Reproductive Rights Source Type: blogs
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